4 minute read
SpokesPeople (2022/issue1)
SHAWN HONG – Bicycle Nomad
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Uncle Shawn is what I'd call a ‘Bike Nomad’. He can often be spotted with his bike in tow at popular spots like Pasir Ris Park on a regular weekday, and at Marina Bay Sands on weekends. You can say his life is like a ride in the park, or wherever his bike leads him.
He’s a bit of a personality, having been featured on news outlets such as CNA’s ‘Show Me The City’, Zaobao ( 早報 ) and even at one of our National Day Parades. Not to mention the scores of tourists and curious passers-by who love to stop for a photo op with him and his fanciful bikes.
I caught up with Uncle Shawn over breakfast on a Monday morning at Downtown East. Thankfully for the wet weather, he wasn’t in any hurry to head out for his daily ride. In fact, he’s in no hurry any other day as he’s retired.
66-yr-old Uncle Shawn was an aircraft technician with SIA for 48 years – the only job he had, until he decided to hang up his tools two years ago. Since then, he has taken up this nomadic lifestyle of biking out on the streets.
Just by looking at his ride, you can tell he’s all set to stay out. If there ever was a Zombie Apocalypse, Uncle Shawn would do very well to survive.
He loves customising his bikes, which he affectionately calls his “wives”. In his words, “My bicycle is my wife, music is my medicine, and mother nature is my friend.” Which explains why he loves to blast his speakers whenever he rides, perhaps to sort of announce his grand arrival wherever he wheels (pun intended)!
His eyes twinkle when he talks about strangers who compliment his music and even dance to it. He’s popular among both kids and adults, and that's why he's willing to invest the time and money doing up his rides to make their day.
He’s definitely not one who travels light. I asked him how heavy his bike was. Possibly between 50-60kg?
Think camper van. He practically has his whole house on two wheels. Here’s what he carts around each day – 2 meals (Lunch and dinner), spare clothings, ground sheet, pillow (neck rest), rain coat, towel, first-aid kid, insulated bottles to keep his drinks hot/cold (he’s a huge IKEA bottle fan), power banks for his speakers, and a ‘fuel tank’ that stores water for washing and cleaning – a self-made contraption he’s very proud of. Having an engineering background has proven to be very useful.
His rides include a Customaxx Harley-style chopper, a Buzzraw, a Figo and two Tsunoda Postman bikes (a male and female version). At the peak of his collection, hetells me he owned 15 bikes, with prices ranging from used ones he got from Carousell at S$500, to a brand new one he bought for S$3,000. Today, he has only 8 left.
Like all proud parents, he has his ‘Champion Bike’ which he reveals to be the Customaxx.
The next question is of course, “Where do you store all your bikes?” Living in land scarce Singapore with 81% of our population living in HDBs, that’s a very real constraint for every legit bike collector.
Uncle Shawn rents a place in Pasir Ris, while waiting for his Build-To-Order flat to be ready. A few of his more treasured bikes are parked there, while the rest are stashed at various void decks.
He’s not worried they’ll get stolen. “Too heavy!”, he says as a matter-of-fact. “No one will dare ride or steal it.”
Why not motorbikes then? Since his bikes look every bit like one. He explains those are too risky. Bicycles are safer to ride. And with the price of COEs and fuel shooting up, it’s definitely a cheaper option too!
Well, if you do spot someone cruising down the horizon looking like a dandy cowboy one of these days, make sure you say hi. That’s probably ‘The Bike Nomad’ himself and his ride coming your way.
